WRITER: MR. VRONG CHINVANTHANANOND
EDITED: THEODORE MARIA SCHOOL OF ARTS
The Dean, Administrators, faculty members, and staff of about 41 people from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, visited Assumption University of Thailand (AU) on November 7, 2022, at Wiset Sisamut room, The Cathedral of Learning Building, Suvarnabhumi Campus. This visit aimed to share Innovation in Teaching and Learning, to share Experiences in Academic Management and visit facilities in AU to support students in campus life.
Dr. Vindhai Cocracul, Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed the visiting group while briefly describing the overview of AU and Asst. Prof. Dr. Uree Cheasakul, Dean of Martin de Tours School of Management and Economics, joined and shared the group’s visit.
Srinakharinwirot University is a public institution with undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields. Associate Professor Dr. Poom Moolsilpa led the visit because of AU’s Faculty of Social Sciences. AU claims to be “The First International University in Thailand and Private University” with more than 100 international programs and accepted academic standards, not excluding national and international popularity. It also includes prepared modern amenities for students in many areas. The faculty of Srinakharinwirot University will gain knowledge, perspectives, experience, and exchange of broad understandings to improve management or practice in the future.
The visiting group had the opportunity to view the following places within Suvarnabhumi Campus:
1. The Cathedral of Learning is a 39-floor building of the Suvarnabhumi Campus housing a VIP Reception room, Meeting and Seminar room, AU Library, Student Affairs, Institute for Research and Academic Services, Confucius Institute at Assumption University, Louis Nobiron School of Music and Faculty rooms.
2. The AU library in the Cathedral of Learning currently has service areas over five floors, including a reading area, exhibition hall, university history room, study room, and Bro. Bancha’s s Collection room and John Paul II Center for Catholic Social Thought. Additionally, on the third and fifth floors is a hanging garden where students relax or read outside to learn and understand nature according to the concept of Rev. Bro. Dr. Prathip M. Komolmas, President Emeritus of AU. The latter assigned Suvarnabhumi Campus as University in a Park.
3. John XX III Conference Center is an international conference center with a capacity of 400 seats, used for organizing meetings for both national and international seminars. It consists of three floors. On the first floor is a reception hall that can be converted into an exhibition room, large seminar meeting room, or large reception room. On the second floor is one large conference room which accommodates 300 people, one executive meeting room for Mr. Kiattikhun UNESCO with 80 seats, one large meeting room with 60 seats, six small meeting rooms with 30 seats, one secretary room, and one VIP lounge. Lastly, on the third floor is 100 attendee seats.
4. Saint Louis Marie de Montfort Chapel is the university’s catholic church used for Mass ceremonies every Sunday evening and other university rituals. The doors on both sides are made of wood carved with Christian motifs and gilded. The interior design is European, decorated with stained glass and imported lamps. The ceiling is decorated with Christian paintings and a movable throne of the Virgin Mary or The Sea of Wisdom carved from Burmese white jade
5. AU Residence Halls consists of three buildings: King David Hall, King Solomon Hall and Queen of Sheba Hall. There are 1,200 rooms total to accommodate students and university guests who attend meetings, seminars, and activities. Each room can accommodate a maximum of two persons alongside many amenities like an air conditioner, toilet, heater, wardrobe, shoe cabinet, and television, not excluding Internet WiFi
6. John Paul II Sports Center, The Indoor Gymnasium has about 3,000 seats for Basketball, Volleyball, Futsal and other activities. For example, Wai Kru Ceremony, Sports Competition, Concert Hall, and Orientation for new students. There are exercise rooms outdoors; namely, the Fitness room, Snooker room and Squash room and the surrounding area has other sports facilities like Indoor Tennis Center Court with 500 seats, 4 Indoor Badminton Courts, 25 meters Indoor Swimming Pool and Assumption University’s Aquatic Center (50 meters Indoor Swimming pool about 2,000 seats) for faculty staff as well as students to be able to exercise, not excluding strengthen their athletic abilities